Sulfur-mining apparatus.



R. E. CARWCHAEL.

SULFUR MINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1918.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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ws ATTORNEY scriptiom such as will enable others skilled ROBERT E. CARMICHAEL, 3F DAMON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR i235 JNE-HALF TS GEORGE HAMMAN, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SULFUR-MINING APFARATUB.

Application filed May 27, 1918.

In all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. .CARMI- CHAEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Damon, Brazoria county, Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sulfur-Mining Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact dein the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to apparatus for sulfur mining and has particular application to apparatus used in mining by means of thermal solvents. In this system of mining, a sulfur mine or well is drilled down through the bed of subterranean sulfur or other material to be mined and into this well my improved system of pipes is placed.

Hot water, steam or other thermal solvent is introduced. forcibly into contact with the sulfur which is fused by the heat oi the solvent and runs down in molten condition to the bottom of the well. The pressure of the heated fluid forced down the outer pipes serves to raise the sulfur in the central sulfur return pipe toward the surface of the ground. The upward course of the current of sulfur is assisted by means of an upward current of air or steam which is forced down another pipe'and discharged near the lower end of the'sulfur pipe and bubbles up through the rising current of sulfur.

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved means of introducing air or steam into the lower end of the liquid outlet pipe in sulfur,- oil or other wells for the purpose of assisting in lifting these liquids to the surface.

Another object is to so introduce the air or steam into a liquid outlet pipe as to assist in lifting the liquid to the surface without having the air or steam inlet pipe in such position as to impede the upward progress of the fluid.

Another object is to so arrange the air or steam inlet as to produce no appreciable back pressureat its point of discharge into the liquid outlet pipe.

Other advantages in simplicity and durability of construction will more clearly appear in the detailed'description which follows.

Referring now to the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the concentric system of pipes constituting my invention showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13.7, 191 3.

Serial no. assess.

the part of my apparatus which is inserted into the well. I ig. is a side view of the upper portion of the system oi pipes shown in Fig. 1 showing that part above ground, which includes the inlets and outlets for the liquids.

In thedraiv'ing, like numerals are applied to like parts throughout the views. The wall of the well is reinforced by the casing 1 near the upper part thereof. This casing is extended dowi'iwardly ordinarily to seat upon the rock strata.

The outer pipe, 2, of my system of pipes is extended down into the well and is anchored at its lower end by beingthreaded. as at 5, to the compound cou 'iliug 4-. said couplingbeing threaded at the base thereof for attachment to the anchoring pipe 6. The anchoring pipe is rigidly held within the lower end of the well. which is extended downwardly 50 or 7.3 feet beyond the sulfur strata for this )urpose. of the pipe 2 for the full depth of the sulfur stratum is perforated at 3 to furnish an outlet for the heating fluid. The upper end of the pipe 2 projects above the ground for a short distance and terminates in a T joint 7. having at its upper end a stulling hox Ill whereby it fits fluid tight around the next inner concentric pipe 12. A lateral inlet pipe 8 is coi'inected to the T T. on one side. p'hile on the other. I connect a relief pipe 9 provided with a roller" valve 10 to provide against excess pressure exerted hy the heating fluid forced in through the inlet pipe 8.

The next inner pipe 12 has also an upper stuiling box 13 which l'urnishcs a sliding; fluid tight connection outside the next inner air pipe 20. The pipe 12 is 'slidable longitudi nally by telescoping within the outer pipe 2. It is spaced well within the outer pipe to provide a wide space 15 for the circulating fluid and is increased in diameter at a point 14 intermediate its ends. lum'icdiately below this enlargement it is provided with a series of outer packing rings 18 held between the coupling 16 and the packing ring 17. Below the coupling, the pipe 12 is impel.- tor-ate but at the point 14 of enlargement and immediately thereabove it is perforated at 19 sufficiently to allow the inlet of the de-' sired volume of heating fluid.

The air pipe 20, next within the slidable pipe 12, has at its upper end an inlet 'l 24 with the lateral inlet pipe 25 leading to an air con presscr, or steam boiler not The lower part (ill a point ahore Li Y .20 has an annuli 11,19 through wh pioe ii looseli.

r inward ieh the next .no innermost pipe 2?, of the system, is

the glli ll' '"utlet pipe. lt has an upper elhow 30' leading to thesulfur receptm-le not shown. it is prorided near its lower end ai outer lit i or ring .28, tilting within the pipe it). This liange will, lowest position, seat upon the flange l l desrrihed and close the passage w ith loosel ii i ill some pouit spared ahore ll 1e rlosure "23, O,

2? I perforate the pipe 2? at these per foratious hemp few in number.

lire opera ion of in improved lltYhU will now he lear. The heating fluid is forred in under pre'uure through the inlet. 8 and down in the .--:pa e lau'ween the pipes:v Z and 12 until its further prpgress in this space is stopped by the parking 1 It then passes through perforations iii to the space within the slidahle pipe 12. roni there it passes around the lower end of the. pipe 12 and is.

projected outwardlr through perforations 3% to the sulfur stratum. Sulfur melted h) the heating tluid ilow down into the lower end of the well through perforations fl and "22 and fOi'l't-tl h the pressure of the heating fluid upwardly within the vsulfur outlet pipe 27.

.r or steam is forced in through the inlet r and downwardly between the pipes and 27 to the point where its progress barred by the closure lt then forced through the opeuiu 29- into the sulfur pipe 2? where it huhhles upwardly lifting therewiih the rising stream of sul fur.

l n sul'lur or oil wells it has previously heen eustoiuar to furnish an inlet for the air through a small renl'ral pipe within the sulfur pipe but this method llits the disadvantage of impeding: the progress of the sulfur upwardly due in the frietiou of the sulfur on this ai pipe.

1' l urlhe niore the air is lherehy projei-ted ilow'nw'ardly against the rising; sulfur and l'urnishes a derided hark-pressure on the ullur. The mixture oi water. air and sullur also liliel'ates a ver lain amount ol ullurie avid which ([lll1'l{l eorrodes the reulrul air pipe and eauses it to disintegrate and hreah oil in lhe well newessilaliuu the temporary suspension of the ruining operations. lily apparatus avoids ll f my improvethese uelerts. .1 lhe use o desired.

meet there is no hack pressure on the liquid, and no impediment to the rising stream of sulfur or oil and no iriner pipe to corrode a rd hrealz.

The purpose of my sliding pipe 12 is t dir ext the current of heating fluid a point along the sulfur bed as desired. 1

obvious that the fluid must pass oroun. the lower end of oosll'heu it is to he lowered toe euiug of the laekle will allow it hael: by gravity to any level whe sulfur bed is to be worked.

llarine thus deserihed iny invention,what

I! w ill) .l ('lklllll as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. in u SfSiLlll of pipes for sulfur mining, an inlet pipe for limiting fluid an inner outlet pipe for the fused sulfur and means outside said sulfur outlet pipe and inside said inlet. pipe for (our ring air into the lower portion of said sulfur outlet. pipe.

2. in an apparatus for sulfur mining, an outer pipe servingas an inlet for the heatin; lluid. an inner pipe for the sulfur outlet, and an intermediate air inlet pipe. said sulfur outlet pipe being perforated to allow ingress of the air thereto from the air pipe.

3. ln an apparatus for sulfur mining. the combination of an outer perforated pipe, an inner sulfur outlet pipe, an intermediate air inlet pipe, cooperating flanges on said air and sulfur pipes to close the passage be tween them and perforations in said sulfur pipe for the purpose described.

-l. in a sulfur mining apparatus, the comhination of an outer fixed pipe, a slidahle pipe withiasaid fixed pipe, an inner disehargze pipe, and an air inlet. pipe between said discharge pipe and said slida'ole pipe.

3. in an apparatus for sulfur mining the i-muhinatiou of an outer perforated inlet pipe. an .inner sulfur outlet pipe, an air inlet pipe bet ween the lwo 'first mentioned pipes. and a rlosure, for the space between the air and .slllflll' pipes. said sulfur pipe heing per l'orated above said closure and said anpipe being perforated helow stid closure. in testimony whereof. l hereupto affix my signature this the 20th (lav of May. A. l), 

